Global Scans · Design · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Design thinking will increasingly play a key role in improving systems and customer experiences. Companies will re-learn their approach to innovation and embrace human-centred design principles. Designers will begin to apply knowledge of human interaction, specifically in the area of how we earn trust and respect, to AI systems.

• [New] A cornerstone of the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030, the Aerotropolis - an amalgamation of aero - and metropolis - is designed to transform Sarawak into a high-tech regional aviation and aerospace hub. Borneo Post Online
• [New] Digital Services and the Path to Autonomous Buildings Through live demonstrations and expert discussions, Siemens will show how digitalization, artificial intelligence, and cloud connectivity are transforming building operations. Siemens Digital Industries Software
• [New] ByteDance-backed Pico plans to debut a 2026 headset built on an in-house chip designed for low-latency processing of high-resolution, high-frame-rate video. KrASIA
• [New] In Elgin, Scotland, £1m has been allocated to build a new regional athletics hub that will bring together multiple sports clubs under one roof - a facility designed by local people, for local use. Positive News
• [New] BAE Systems Launchpad is a new incubator program designed to take dual-use technologies beyond the defence sector and help innovations reach their full commercial potential. MarineLink
• [New] The Bamboo Housing Challenge is a global design competition inviting architects, designers, engineers, students, and creative thinkers worldwide to imagine a bamboo-based affordable home prototype that can be built for under USD10,000. ArchDaily
• [New] Outlook for 2026-2030 The years 2026-2030 will be a period of intensive technological transformation in the energy sector, during which changes will no longer be isolated or incremental, but will instead affect the entire architecture of the power system. TTMS
• [New] In 2026, we expect to see more companies investing in architecture, governance and analytics talent, not just tools, to unlock AI's full value. The Real Economy Blog
• [New] Key performance indicators in 2026 will be a rapid Robotaxi expansion, including both the ODD [Operational Design Domain] and user base, and the expansion of unsupervised Full Self-Driving. EV
• [New] Bloomberg plans to relaunch its connected TV streaming channels in Q3 in 2026, upgrading them with similar video design improvements made on Bloomberg's site and app. Digiday
• [New] Identity security is rapidly evolving from simple username/password models into AI-driven governance, liveness biometrics, decentralized identity, passwordless passkeys, and machine identities that will define access in 2026. Cybersecurity News Everyday
• [New] In 2026, artificial intelligence will be embedded into the central architecture of a cryptocurrency exchange and not as an adjunct external tool. BlockchainX
• [New] Businesses expect metaverse platforms to include robust identity management, secure data handling, and compliance with global privacy regulations. Deftsoft
• [New] The planned Starlab facility, led by Airbus, is being designed specifically as an orbital manufacturing hub, while Axiom Space is developing the world's first commercial space station, where manufacturing, research, and industrial-scale production will be core use cases. Cyclop SpaceTech
• [New] The TIP OOPT community efforts in 2026 will focus on the current definition of architecture, interfaces, and use cases started by the MUST Optical Planning Use Cases document and will relay into GNPy open API definitions to empower AI agents and automated planning tools. Telecom Infra Project
• [New] A new consumer survey has fuelled further debate over how Australia funds private hospital care, as insurers warn that the federal government's proposed activity-based funding (ABF) model could affect participation, pricing, and product design across the private health sector. Insurance Business
• [New] The fully digitised upgrade is expected to enhance operational effectiveness and strengthen India's layered air defence architecture. Guidely
• By drastically shortening the material development process, AI-driven design could accelerate the creation of smart materials for applications ranging from holographic and VR or AR displays to adaptive optical systems and smart windows that respond to their environment. ScienceDaily
• Across disciplines, several common futurists predictions 2026-2030 themes are emerging that point toward how life, work, and identity may evolve in the coming decades. Futurist Speakers: Keynote Speaker, Strategy Consultant
• Canva AI is needed in a world of visual branding where the quality of design has a direct proportional level of engagement and conversions and will ensure that companies are not forced to employ costly or time-consuming designers. The AI Journal
• By 2032, mesh app service architecture in North America will mature into a core layer of enterprise application platforms. Mobility Foresights
• Recent proposals from Ottawa are designed to address the risks and opportunities that come with AI-driven tools. Delta Optimist

Last updated: 09 February 2026